Prefabricated metal panel joining member



Patented Jan. 26, 1954 PREFABRICATED METAL PANEL JOINING MEMBER Frank Kullmer, Burlingame, Calif., assigner `to Soule Steel Company, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of California Application September 13, 1949, Serial No. 115,370

(Cl. 189-34) Y 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved panel joining member and more particularly relates to an improved prefabricated metallic panel joining member suitable for joining a pair of adjacent wall or roof panels together at their adjoining edges.

One embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings and which will be described hereinafter in more detail comprises a prefabricated metallic stud particularly adaptable for joining two vertically disposed wall panels together. The stud is made up of two channel pieces, each of which comprises a web and two opposed parallel sides of unequal length, and the webs of the two channel pieces are rigidly connected to one another. The shorter side of each channel piece is formed with an inwardly extending ange which is adapted te abut against an edge of an adjacent panel to maintain said panel spaced from the web of the channel piece. A cover plate, secured adjustably to the shorter sides of the joined channel pieces, provides a means for clamping adjoining panels securely to the stud.

The second embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings and which will be more fully described hereinafter, comprises a modification of the rst embodiment and is particularly suitable for joining an adjacent pair of roof panels together. The principles of construction and operation of the second embodiment of the present'J invention are broadly the same as those which make up the first embodiment and, specic distinctions between the two will be related in detail hereinafter.

In the manufacture and assembly of prefabricated buildings and houses it is particularly desirable to employ as many uniform parts as possible. In copending applications Serial Nos. '714,097 and 19,149, each of which is now abandoned, reference is made to the purposes, objects and advantages of building structures which employ studs and wall panels of substantially uniform and standardized size.

Although the present invention can be used to advantage with any number of types of panels, it has been found that a type of laminated panel sold under the trade name Cemesto-Board and made up of a central core of cane sugar fibre faced on both sides with a relatively hard and smooth layer of cement and asbestos mixture is particularly satisfactory, especially in localities where extremely varied climatic conditions exist. This latter mentioned type of panel possesses qualities of low moisture absorption and excel- 5 lent heat insulation se desirable in territories where heavy rainfall is not uncommon and extreme variations in temperature are to be expected.

A principal object vof the present invention is to provide a panel joining member of novel construction which permits all the exterior wall and roof panels of a building to be erected solely from the exterior side of the building frame, thereby eliminating the necessity for workmen having to bring exterior wall and roof panels within the interior of the building framework in order to erect them.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a prefabricated metal panel joining member which is formed with e, plurality of angular bends which, in turn, result in great structural strength and rigidity of the member.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel prefabricated stud member which when fully assembled and positioned operatively in association with a pair of joined panels containe hollow pockets into which may be inserted a plastic calking material. The hollow pockets serve as `weather protective containers for the calking material and prevent the latter from drying and hardening, and a weather tight seal between the panels and stud at their points of joinder is insured.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a substantially hollow panel joining member through which electrical wiring and the like may be run to various outlets and fixtures within the building.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stud member comprising two channel pieces which may be assembled te function as a panel joining member in a straight line wall ccnstruction or may be assembled to serve as a corner stud construction.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views. Fig. 1 is a View in cross-section of one embodi `ment of my invention shown in operative association with a pair of adjoining panels which are shown fragmentarily.

Fig. 2 is a view in cross-section of a second embodiment of my invention shown in operative association with a pair of adjoining panels which are shown fragmentarily.

Fig. 3 is a view in cross-section of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 assembled to form a corner stud construction. Y

Referring now more particularly to the drawings Fig. l illustrates a type of panel joining member which is particularly suitable as a vertical stud member for joining adjacent edges of adjoining wall panels together in a straight line wall construction. Fig. 3 is illustrative of a similar type stud member which is assembled to form a corner stud construction. Fig. 2 illustrates a modification of the type of a construction shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and is particularly adapted as a rafter construction to join adjacent roof panels together. In short, the type of construction illustrated in Figs. l and 3 is particularly adapted for supporting panels which are disposed ina substantially vertical plane, whereas, the type of panel joining member illustrated in Fig. 2 is especially suited for supporting adjacent panels such as roof slabs or panels which are normally disposed in a plane more nearly approaching horizontal.

In Fig'. l there is illustrated. in cross-section a prefabricated metal stud, indicated generally at A, in operative association with adjacent edge` portions of a pair of panels, indicated generally at B and C. The metal stud member A may be secured adjacent' its bottom extremities by bolts it@ to a sill-plate or angle iron, indicated generally at D, which, in turn, is preferably firmly anchored in concrete or the like. The metal stud member may be cut to desired length or height to suit particular building specifications and can be fastened adjacent its upper extremities to thev roof or ceiling supporting members (not shown) f by bolts, welding or other suitable means (not shown).

The stud member shown in Fig. 1 comprises identically formed channel pieces, which are indicated generally at ISI and IBIa. Channel piece iI comprises, more specifically, a web I 92 and two opposed parallel sides |03 and I @d which proy ject outwardly perpendicularly to the plane of Side' m3 is of considerably greater` the web. length than side Iss, and this latter side, in turn, is formed with an inwardly extending ange ISE. Flange Ide is disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of web It! In view of the fact that channel pieces ISI and lilia are identically formed, thekparts of channel piece Ila are numbered the same as the parts comprising channel piece IUI but are sufxed by the numeral a to distinguish them in the y drawings.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. l the channel pieces HEI and ISIS' are joined back-toback at their webs preferably by spot welding, as indicated at ist, to form a unitary stud construction.

A prefabricated stud member of the present type is, of course, designed and proportioned with relation to the dimensions of the panels with which it is to be used. In the instant case it may be assumed that each of the panels B and C have a given and predetermined thickness, and it is noted in this respect that the length of the webs H32 and IZe of the channel pieces substantially exceedthe thickness of each panel. The reason for this particular arrangement of parts will become clear hereinafter. It has also been mentioned heretofore that a particularly satisfactory type of panel construction for use with the present invention comprises a laminated panel having a central core of sugar cane fibre, such as indlcated at Mil, faced on both sides with a relatively hard cement and asbestos. surfacing compound, indicated at IGEL.

In the erection ofy a building embodying the 'd present invention it is contemplated that the frame of the building, including the wall studs, ridge beam and rafters will all be assembled and secured in their proper position before interior and exterior paneling operations are commenced.

It may be assumed for purposes of convenient discussion that vertical studs, comprising joined channel pieces of the type heretofore indicated at IIiI and Il Ia, will have been erected and securely anchored 'in their properly spaced positions as a; part of the framework of the building before the panels are erected. Assuming further that the studs are utilized in exterior stud construction, the members would be positioned so that the longer sides H33 and lta of the joined channel pieces face inwardly and the shorter sides IM and` Iililet face outwardly. This arrangement permits all of the exterior panels to be positioned with respect to the studs from the outside of the building frame and eliminates any necessity for workmen having to carry exterior panels within the confines of the building framework to erect Y them.

In operation, the panels B and C are positioned so that their edges abut against inwardly extending iianges I E5 and Hita respectively. (In actual practice the panels may be out so as to allow-about a 11-6" clearance between the panel edges and the abutment flanges to facilitate rapid and easy insertion of thepanels into their proper positions between spaced stud members.) Flange Ill5 maintains panel B in spaced relationship with respect to web H52, and similarly flange maintains panel C ina position spaced from web IilZ. The completed stud, therefore, is formed with a Substantially hollow interior through which electrical wiring may be run if desired.

A cover plate, such as indicated generally at IGS, is employed to clamp the panels B and C securely to the stud member A. More specifically, cover plate Ille comprises a channel piece having a web portion HI and inwardly extending sides II2 and IIZ. Cover plate A is preferably cut to the same length as the stud member to which it is attached so that it extends the full length or height of the stud member. Suitable apertures at spaced intervals may be formed in the web of the cover plate ,lengthwise thereof in registry with corresponding apertures provided in each ofthe sides ld and Italia of the channel piece to permit the cover plate to be fastened by screws, as indicated at IIS and IISa to the said channel pieces. Preferably a rcoating or sheet of suitable heat insulating material, such as an asphaltic compound, indicated at IIQ, is inserted between the cover plate and the channel pieces to prevent direct heat transfer therebetween. It is believed evident from the foregoing that tightening of screws IIS and IISa will cause the inwardly projecting end of side I l2 of the cover plate to bear against the adjacent side of panel B and clamp it securely against side IBB of channel piece IGI to maintain the panel securely nxed to the stud member. Simultaneously with the tightening of screws H3 and H3EL the inwardly projecting end of side I I2a of the cover plate will bear against and clamp pan-el C against side HB3a of channel piece I0 Ia.

An important feature of the present construction is that after the cover plate has been properly positioned and clamped against adjoining panels, hollow pockets, such as indicated at IIS and IIS, which extend the entire length of the cover plate and stud member, are formed. vPreferably each hollow pocket VI I5 and I I5a is packed rwith a suitable plastic @airing compound,- as indicated at llt, which may be introduced orinjected into the hollow pockets manuallyor by a conventional calking gun, or, alternatively, the cover plate may be packed with calking material before attaching it to the stud plate and when the cover plate is tightened against the stud the calking material will be compressed to ll the pockets ||3 and ||3a and the excess material, if any, will be squeezed out around the sides of the plate during the tightening process. The hollow pockets l|5 and ||5e comprise a weather protective container for the calking compound and prevents the latter from hardening or drying due to direct exposure to the weather. As a result the calking compound can be maintained forindelnite periods in a plastic state, and, therefore, expansion and contraction of the metal stud member due to temperature variations will not open up seams and cracks between the panels and the studs as might otherwise be the case were no calking compound used or were the calking compound permitted to harden andl'become brittle and non-plastic in texture.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 3 there is indicated a corner stud construction comprising two identically formed channel pieces, as indicated generally at 20| and Zilla, which, in turn, are identical in all respects to channel pieces l0l and lilla. More specifically, channel piece 20| comprises a web 202, opposed parallel sides (of unequal length) indicated at 203 and 204, and an inwardly extending fiange 205. Corresponding parts of channel piece 20| a are identied by similar reference numerals but `are sufixed by the letter a to distinguish them in the drawings. Adjoining panels, indicated generally at B and C in Fig. 3, may be considered structurally similar in all respects to the panels indicated at B and C in Fig. l.

The respective webs of channel pieces 20| and 20|a are rigidly connected to one another by an angle piece 220 which is preferably spot welded to each of the webs, as indicated at 206, whereby the respective planes of the webs are disposed substantially perpendicular to one another.

Cover plate 200 comprises an angle piece having two inwardly projecting iiange or side members indicated at 2|2 and 2l2EL respectively. The cover plate, in turn, is secured adjustably to each channel piece by screws, such as indicated at l |3 and l |33, and tightening of these screws will cause the end of inwardly projecting flange 2l 2 to 'bear against and clamp metal panel B firmly against side 203 of channel piece 20|, and tightening of the screws will similarly cause the inwardly projected end of flange 2|2a to bear against and clamp panel C' rmly against side 203a of channel piece 20W. It is noted that the inwardly eX- tending flanges 205 and 205a maintain the respective panels in spaced relationship to the webs of the channel pieces thereby defining a hollow stud member. Moreover, when the cover plate 209 has been securely screwed in place, hollow pockets 2l5 and 2l5a (similar to pockets l|5 yand H52. already identified), are formed which, in turn, are preferably packed with suitable plastic calking compound. Heat insulating material, such as indicated at 2M is preferably provided between the cover plate and the channel pieces.

The construction illustrated in Fig. 2 comprises a panel joining member, which as has been previously noted, is particularly adaptable for use in rafter construction and comprises a pair of identically formed channel pieces indicated gen- 6 erally at 30| and 30|* respectively. Channel piece 30| comprises a web portion 302 and opposed parallel sides 303 and 304. Side 304 is substantially shorter in length than side 303 and is provided with an inwardly extending flange v305. The longer side 303 is provided with an integrally formed and inwardly projecting angle piece having two flat plane surfaces 330 and 33| Surface 330 is disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the web portion 302 of the channel, and surface 33| of the angle piece is disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to surface 330 and parallel to the plane of side 303.

The several'parts which comprise identically formed channel piece 30|a bear the same identifying numerals as the corresponding parts of channel piece 30| but are suiixed by the letter a to distinguish them in the drawings.

In assembly the two channel pieces 30| and 30|a are attached together back-to-back at their webs by spot welding, as indicated at 306, or by other suitable means, to form a unitary rafter member. A rafter comprising a pair of joined channel pieces may be attached conveniently to its supporting members of the building frame (such as a stud or ridge beam, or the like) by bolts, such as indicated at 332, which may be projected through suitable apertures (not shown) formed in the side members 303 and 303e. Obviously, the rafters may be affixed to their respective supporting members by spot welding or by other suitable means.

It is noted that in the rafter construction shown in Fig. 2 no element comparable to either the cover plate |09 or cover plate 209 is indicated. The reason for this is that the weight of the roof panels indicated at B" and C resting on supporting surfaces 33| and 33|, respectively, is considered sufficient to maintain the panels in position with respect to the rafter without employment of additional clamping means. Moreover, it is contemplated that roong material will be laid directly over the roofing panels, and this, in turn, will greatly assist in maintaining the roof panels in rigidly fixed position. A highly satisfactory roofing surface is shown in Fig. 2 and comprises an under layer of relatively heavy gauge felt, indicated at 334, and an outer layer of mineral surfacing material, such as indicated at 333.

Although I have described my invention in some specific detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modiications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a building structure, the combination of a pair of structural panels lying in the same plane but spaced edgewise; a prefabricated metal stud unit joining said panels, said stud unit comprising a pair of generally channel shaped members each having a web and opposed parallel side elements of unequal length perpendicular to said web, the webs of said members being secured rigidly together in back-to-back relation, the shorter side elements of said members each terminating in inturned portions lying at right angles to said shorter side elements and each abutting an edge of one of said panels, the longer side elements of said members each terminating in a flat portion positioned against a face of the panel abutting the corresponding one of said inturned portions; and securing means aflixed to 'said shorter side elements of said members, overlapping and securing said panels.

2. In a building structure, the combination of a pair of structural panels lying at right angles to each other and having their near edges spaced apart; a prefabricated metal stud unit joining Said panels, said stud unit comprising a pair of generally channel shaped members each having a Web and opposed parallel side elements of unequal length perpendicular to said web, said members being disposed with their webs at right angles to each other and the side elements of each member extending toward an adjacent one of said panels, and a metal member of right angle cross section secured to said Webs maintaining said members rigidly in position, the shorter side elements of each of Said members `terminating in an inwardly turned portion lying `at right angles to said shorter side element andV `abutting the edge of one of said panels, the longer `side element of each of said members terminating in a flat portion positioned against a face of the panel abutting the corresponding one of e said inturned portions; and a cover member of generally right angle cross-section secured Vto said shorter side elements of said members and overlapping said panels maintaining said panels vin position against said longer side elements.

3. In a building structure, the combination of a pair of structural panels arranged with their `edges spaced apart; a prefabricated unit positioned between and joining said panels, said 8 unitV comprising a pair of generally channel shaped members each having a WebY and opposed side elements of unequal length extending from the web, said channel shaped members being arranged each with its side elements extending toward an adjacent one of said panels, the shorter side elements of said members terminating in inturned portions each abutting an edge of one of said panels xing the same against edge- Wise movement toward said prefabricated unit, the longer side elements .of said members each terminating in a flat portion positioned against a face of the panel abutting the corresponding one of said inturned portions; and means affixed to said shorter side elements of said members, overlapping said panels and maintaining the same in engagement with said flat portions.

FRANK KULLMER.

References Cited in the i'lle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

